The US SEC lays out its plans for cryptocurrency oversight in 2020

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts and entities in the U.S. shouldn’t expect the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to lighten up on its oversight of the Bitcoin ecosystem this year. If anything, more scrutiny is on its way and the financial regulator is going to be just as strict as it was in 2019. The SEC, through its Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), has published its list of priorities for 2020, and will be diligently watching the space, and it appears as though the SEC may be – ever so slightly – warming up to digital currencies.

The OCIE just released its 2020 Examination Priorities (in pdf) framework and is ready to tackle the crypto industry. Still referring to crypto as an emerging sector, the office explains that digital assets continue to be a volatile and risky subject for investors who don’t understand how they work in comparison to conventional investments. The document reads, in part, “Due to these risks, OCIE will continue to identify…